EPA Introduces Innovative Computer Simulation of Human Lung Function
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has unveiled a groundbreaking new tool: the Human Respiratory System Model. This 3-D model, available online, offers a detailed and customisable representation of the human respiratory system, from the tip of the nose to the lower lung regions.
Based on human scan data, the model can be adapted to account for factors such as age, ethnicity, height, weight, and sex, making it a versatile resource for a wide range of applications.
One of the key advantages of the Human Respiratory System Model is its ability to visualise respiratory flow and identify best practices for respiratory drug delivery. It also serves as an important advancement for investigating aerosolized contaminant transport, deposition, and clearance in the human respiratory system.
The model can be used for determining exposure and dose from hazardous contaminants where inhalation studies on humans cannot be conducted. It is also valuable for planning oral/nasal/lung surgery, investigating dosimetry and inhalation toxicology for general and sensitive populations, including the diseased and the elderly.
The model's user-friendly interface gives researchers and the broader health community simplified access to respiratory modeling and associated data. Users can input specifics such as sex, age, and physical parameters into the interface, and a surface model is generated that includes the nasal and oral cavities, pharynx, larynx, trachea, and three airway paths.
The model can be viewed in a web browser or exported and saved as a standard stereolithography (STL) computer-aided design (CAD) file. It is compatible with Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, and other modern browsers.
Moreover, the model interface allows users to modify internal face morphology to match external facial features, providing increased levels of model customisation and accuracy. This feature is particularly useful for educators, who can use the model as a free, customisable anatomical model of the human respiratory system for use in school settings.
The EPA plans to continue ensuring public access to the most updated data of the Human Respiratory System Model. As part of their ongoing research into the health effects of air pollution and wildfire smoke, including respiratory impacts and vulnerable populations, the EPA is developing the model further to incorporate additional features such as morphological changes due to respiratory disease, dynamic physiologies, mucociliary action, and functional alveoli.
For more information or to use the Human Respiratory System Model, visit EPA's official website.
- The Human Respiratory System Model, developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is a valuable resource for the medical-conditions and health-and-wellness community, as it offers detailed visualizations of respiratory flow and drug delivery for various ages, ethnicities, and health conditions.
- In the realm of science and technology, the advancement of the Human Respiratory System Model by the EPA has significant implications for investigating aerosolized contaminants and exploring the effects of air pollution on vulnerable populations, contributing to a broader understanding of health and wellness.
